I practiced as a monk alone in Japan.

Chapter 35 Haji Xue, you rascal!

Perhaps in Sakuraba Yuki's mind, eating barbecue together doesn't seem to be a transgression.

But in Tsukino Gen's opinion, wasn't it a little too rushed?
Or was she really that happy to see him again?

The boy was practicing martial arts, not mind-reading techniques, so naturally he couldn't possibly know exactly what the other person was thinking.

However, it seemed impossible to bluntly refuse the other person's current interest. After all, recalling that time, their time together was indeed pleasant and a profound memory. Time could not completely erase its significance.

Inside a reasonably priced barbecue restaurant, the air was thick with the aroma of cooking.

Even with the air conditioning on, the store still felt smoky and hot.

So Sakuraba Yuki had already taken off her uniform jacket and put it aside, revealing her beautiful figure through the white shirt underneath.

It's like a chest about to burst out, with bulging, full peaks that immediately arouse an interest and desire to climb it.

To be fair, Sakuraba Yuki isn't exactly plump, but she's certainly not thin either.

He looks very healthy and still has a youthful energy for his age.

Moreover, in front of me, she seemed to easily make childlike expressions, which created a striking contrast with her figure.

It's not so much that it's incongruous, but rather that it enhances her charm. Otherwise, why would so many people be obsessed with her so-called "baby face and big breasts"?

The ordered barbecue was served quickly, and the pot was almost hot. Sakuraba Yuki took the initiative to roll up her sleeves and take over the responsibility of grilling the meat.

It was quite relaxing to have Tsukino Gen sitting here, not having to do anything, and he even felt a little unaccustomed to it. There was no way around it; there was someone next door who needed his care, and his experience growing up in an orphanage had made him used to doing everything himself.

As the meat sizzled and dripped oil on the grill, the young woman with her long hair tied up smiled and looked at Tsukino Gen.

"By the way, how can we have barbecue without beer? Do you want some?"

"Still drinking?"

"Of course, aren't you an adult?"

Is your bottom line simply that you're an adult?
"I'm fine, it's just you."

Upon hearing this, Sakuraba Yuki immediately turned around and called the waiter to order a few bottles of beer, quite quickly, as if afraid that Tsukino Gen would change his mind.

After dividing the pre-roasted pieces of meat equally, Sakuraba Yuki handed a can to Tsukino Gen.

She proactively picked up a beer and offered it to Tsukino Gen, smiling as she said, "Come on, let's drink to our reunion."

"cheers."

Gen Tsukino didn't refuse, after all, he wouldn't be affected by alcohol. The clinking of the wine jugs together produced a completely different tactile and sound compared to the clinking of the glasses.

Sakuraba Yuki took a big gulp, seemingly quite familiar with alcohol, and even remarked that she lacked any ladylike manners.

"In this weather, you just have to have an ice-cold beer."

Her actions and sentiments inexplicably reminded Tsukino Gen of a gambler.

Tsukino Gen looked at the other person with amusement, "It seems that Sakuraba-sensei drinks quite often."

Sakuraba Yuki sighed upon hearing this.

"There's no way around it. After graduating from school and starting to become a teacher, I found that being a teacher is really painful. The good students are okay, you don't need to worry about them much. But most of the time, it's the kids who are going through their rebellious phase. They're really a headache. I'm anxious almost every day about how to teach them."

“Until a very senior teacher told me that in times like these, I should just have a drink and then teach the next day as usual. She said: You are a teacher, not their parents. What's the point of worrying so much? Just do what you believe is right. You can't possibly worry about the whole class. Feeling that you are fully responsible for this part of their lives is just adding burden to yourself.”

Gen Tsukino raised an eyebrow. "So you just did it?"

Sakuraba Yuki shook her head, a hint of bitterness in her voice. "I did drink some wine, and it did help ease my anxiety a lot. But I still can't help worrying about it. I try my best to contact their parents to discuss their problems, but some parents don't care about their children at all. They seem to think that raising them to adulthood is enough, and earning enough money for them to eat and drink is already a huge favor. They don't really understand what their children want. I'm still trying my best, but I still can't do much."

Listen to her talk about these things.

Gen Tsukino thought for a moment, then ate a piece of grilled meat.

"Indeed, you shouldn't put too much pressure on yourself. Of course, I also believe that Sakuraba-sensei's desire to become a good teacher is not for others' approval, but out of your own sense of responsibility."

"Why do you think so?"

Sakuraba Yuki asked curiously.

Gen Tsukino smiled and said, "After all, which college student who is doing practical training would bring a big bag of snacks, books and stationery to the orphanage every day to distribute to those children? They are the first to arrive and the last to leave. At that time, I thought that Sakuraba-sensei would definitely be a good teacher in the future."

This isn't exactly flattery, bootlicking, or mere politeness.

It's not difficult to start doing something well; the challenge lies in consistently doing it consistently.

Sakuraba Yuki did this for several months, and even after her training ended, she often visited the orphanage to see the children, which was completely different from other people who just went through the motions to complete their studies.

Of course, this also meant that she would definitely be very tired, putting invisible pressure on herself.

Sakuraba Yuki smiled with relief. "It's good that you still remember those things. By the way, why are you still calling me teacher? You should call me older sister."

She put on a stern face and said, feigning displeasure.

Tsukino Gen said irritably, "You're my teacher now."

"That was at school, this is a barbecue together, and you still calling me that makes me feel pressured!"

"Alright, alright, Sakuraba-neechan."

"Why are you still so unwilling? Make your voice sweeter, and say it again with a smile."

That's enough for you.

"Hahaha, so cute! Even when Tsukino-kun is angry, he's still so adorable! Cheers!"

"You're really something."

Gen Tsukino reluctantly picked up the bottle again, and they clashed together once more.

The alcohol was bubbling inside, making a hissing sound as it went down my throat.

Looking at Sakuraba Yuki smiling happily in front of him, Tsukino Gen didn't actually feel troubled. This kind of reunion wasn't a pressure, and besides, he had no problem with his aesthetic sense.

To feel troubled when such a charming woman is in front of you is rather ungrateful.

Oh, he's just that kind of ungrateful person. Never mind then.

"Two more cans of beer, please!"

"Hey, are you a drunkard?"

"Oh, right, Tsukino-kun."

"Ok?"

Having already drunk quite a bit, Sakuraba Yuki still seemed to be in high spirits. Her delicate face was flushed with the aftertaste of alcohol, giving her an alluring, seductive charm.

His eyes seemed a little unfocused.

"Tsukino-kun is so handsome now, and his grades are so good. Do lots of girls at school have a crush on you?"

Why is it this kind of question again?

Sigh, I really didn't want to be this handsome. I don't know how many times I've said this lately, but it's probably better to say it less often. There will probably be plenty of opportunities to say it later.

"It's alright, not too much."

This is pure modesty. I remember when I first entered university, if I didn't clean out my shoe locker every two days, it would be overflowing with love letters. And it wasn't just girls, there were even other girls.

It's not an exaggeration at all; there were even outrageous comments on the school forum before.

[Sisters, if you haven't slipped a love letter into Tsukino-kun's bag, hasn't your high school education been a waste?] [I have some tissues Tsukino-kun used to wipe his sweat, selling them cheaply, first come, first served. Note: They show slight signs of my use.]

I'm practically becoming a tourist attraction myself.

As I entered my second year of high school, my stance of clearly not accepting any girls' confessions became well-known, and the situation improved considerably.

"Oh, you're definitely being modest. I remember back in the orphanage, quite a few girls secretly liked you. And wasn't there often a girl from outside who would come to see you? What was her name again?"

Just then, the waiter brought the wine over.

Gen Tsukino, who originally did not advocate excessive drinking, now only wanted to get the other person drunk so that they would talk less.

"Come on, let's drink, stop talking."

"Pfft, why are you shy now?"

"Why am I shy? It's mainly because I don't remember."

Gen Tsukino said against his will.

Then he picked up his beer and clinked glasses with the other person.

"boom."

The newly opened beers made the same sound, then were poured into different mouths.

The flush on Sakuraba Yuki's face became more pronounced, and her eyes seemed to be starting to dart around.

She looked dazed, but squinted at Tsukino Gen.

"You wouldn't forget. You seem aloof and distant, as if there's a barrier between you and others, but you certainly wouldn't forget those who became your friends. Did something happen?"

"You talk like you know me so well, but there's nothing wrong."

"Heh, how can you talk to your older sister like that? I... I know you pretty well, right? Well, not entirely. But Tsukino-kun, do you know something?"

Gen Tsukino glared at the person who was already pointing and gesturing at him.

The woman was clearly intoxicated.

"You've had too much to drink? I know that."

"It's not this one!"

"what is that?"

“Yes, that’s right.” Sakuraba Yuki’s rosy lips parted slightly, and with such a carefree and relaxed movement, one felt an urge to take a bite. Or rather, she herself, her entire body, was a delicious feast.

Those who can resist the urge to taste something are not very close to God, but are already far from humanity.

"The more you act like this, the more people want to know about you. So... maybe that's why I paid so much attention to you back then?"

“You’re so different from the other kids. They’re always thinking about when they’ll be picked up and when they’ll have a real family. That’s true, but it’s like you just want to grow up quickly and leave that place, wherever you want to go. I feel like they’re like abandoned little birds, and you’re like an eagle waiting to spread your wings.”

Genji Tsukino almost blushed from what she said.

"As expected of a teacher, this description is rather embarrassing."

"I'm awesome, right? Hehe."

The grilled meat and side dishes on the table were almost gone, and there were countless empty wine bottles on the table.

Looking at the woman in front of him, who was pointing at him with her index finger and swaying unsteadily, Tsukino Gen felt that the meal was almost over no matter what.

"Alright, let's go back now that we've eaten enough."

"Huh? You're not drinking anymore? I haven't had enough."

"That's enough for you, get up and go pay the bill."

"That's really going too far. Making a girl pay the bill."

She muttered.

"Aren't you my sister? Do you expect your brother to pay the bill?"

She glanced at the boy in front of her, who looked like an innocent child.

"Oh right, since you're the younger brother, the older sister should pay the bill."

As soon as she stood up, she almost stumbled and fell to the ground. Fortunately, Tsukino Gen was prepared and immediately helped the swaying and unsteady Sakuraba Yuki.

"Alright, I'll buy it."

Why does this feel like I've been tricked? Looking at the empty wine bottles on the table, if there hadn't been no red wine, Tsukino Gen would have suspected that the other party was a bar scammer.

"No, no need. I promised I'd buy it."

Gen Tsukino was too lazy to pay attention to this woman who could barely speak clearly.

How could she let herself get so drunk in front of me? Or is this just her usual behavior?
Unbeknownst to Tsukino Gen, he proactively paid the bill.

Sakuraba Yuki, who was still struggling to pay the bill, blinked and looked at the boy with innocent eyes.

"You really bought it?"

"Otherwise what? I'm afraid you can't even count the numbers."

"Oh, it's okay. I'll treat you to a big meal later."

Still trying to scam me!
"Alright, alright, let's go first."

I helped the woman, whose smell was a mixture of alcohol and aroma, out of the barbecue restaurant. It was already dark outside.

Gen Tsukino glanced at the woman beside him.

"Can you get home by yourself now?"

Sakuraba Yuki nodded seriously.

"Yes, of course! Let go."

Gen Tsukino tentatively loosened his grip.

next moment.

"boom."

Sakuraba Yuki made a beautiful and elegant turn, like a graceful ballet move, and then ended in a complete disaster, collapsing onto the roadside railing.

"No sleeping here."

Annoyed, Tsukino Gen grabbed the other's slender waist.

Sakuraba Yuki looked up at Tsukino Gen and then gave him a somewhat goofy smile.

"Hehe, let's play a game. You caught me, game won!"

"Games my ass. Alright, tell me where you live, and I'll take you home."

Is this what you call a sense of boundaries? I've been fooled again.

Haji, you rascal.

……

(End of this chapter)